Pottangi: With Odisha and Andhra Pradesh caught up in an ugly imbroglio over their claim over Kotia panchayat under this block in Koraput district, a fresh row has erupted over the construction of a hydropower project at Talaganjeipadar village in the panchayat, a report said Saturday. Controversy broke out as residents of seven villages armed with sharp-edged weapons recently marched to the work site and opposed the construction of the hydro-power project at Talaganjeipadar village in the panchayat. All the villagers — starting from children and youths to the elderly — were seen carrying sharp-edged weapons in their hands opposing the project, Friday.
Sources said that six persons from Tamil Nadu arrived with earth-moving equipment last Sunday at Talaganjeipadar village. They pitched tents and started excavating the area under the hill with earth movers, Thursday. They were busy with their work when villagers reached the spot and questioned who had sent them and enquired about the purpose of their visit to the area. They questioned whether it is the Odisha government or the Andhra Pradesh government that has sent them to the area. Fearing backlash, the workers did not reply and instead stopped the work.
Notably, an Andhra team visited the area December 28, 2021 and was identifying land for the hydropower project. Some officials from Odisha also visited the place after learning about their arrival. Both the groups had had a heated exchange of words before the Andhra team abandoned the place and dispersed. The villagers have alleged that seven villages in the area would be submerged and their forest land destroyed if the project comes up in the area. They have warned that they will not allow work on the project under any circumstances. They demanded the district administration and the block officials first talk to them before making any further move with the project. “We should be explained first on the benefits and losses arising out of the project,” they said. When contacted, Kotia sarpanch Liu Gemel said she is unaware of the development. She, however, said that no pallisabha or gramsabha has been conducted before taking up the construction of the project.
On the other hand, BDO Soumya Sarthak Mishra, despite being present at Kotia during the period, chose not to visit the spot and held talks with the aggrieved villagers. This raised question marks on the veracity of the project which has given rise to speculations in the area.